Black Coat of Arms & Family Crest
Where the Black name began, what it means, and where it was first recorded.
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Origin of the Black name
Black was a nickname for a man with dark hair or a dark complexion, from Old English blæc. In medieval spelling it was easily confused with blāc, "pale, fair", so a few families may have had the opposite meaning. In Scotland, Black was also used as an English form of Gaelic names containing dubh, "black", such as MacIlduibh. The name is common in Scotland and Ulster.
Our historical archives hold much more on the Black name: dates, names and records of early bearers.
This overview covers the Black name in Scotland & England. We also hold records of the name in other countries, such as the United States, Northern Ireland and Canada; your full pack is researched for your family's country of origin.
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Your full Black pack adds the researched history, early records and migration. Order your pack and our heraldry team researches and paints the Black coat of arms for you.
Black name FAQ
What does the Black name mean?
Dark-haired, swarthy. Common variants include Blake, Blacke, Blacker.
Where does the Black surname come from?
It originates in Scotland & England, and is also found in the United States, Northern Ireland and Canada.
Is there a Black coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals, not whole surnames, so there is no single Black crest. Herald Lab paints a personalized Black coat of arms based on historic heraldry.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: Reaney & Wilson, Dictionary of English Surnames; George F. Black, The Surnames of Scotland (New York Public Library, 1946); Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).